Shaft-tug



(NoModeL) T. W. DAVIES 8; G. M. DOWNEY.

. SHAFT TUG. No. 445,929.

Patented Feb. 3, 1891.

. [722167010 729 j figji Fag 2 Wz'znesses:

. shafts of different sizes, while at the same UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS WILLIAM DAVIES AND GEORGE MARSHALL DOWNEY, or DALLAS,

TEXAS.

SHAFT-TUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,929, dated February 3, 1891..

Application filed September 24, 1890 Serial No. 366,013. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, THOMAS \VILLIAM DA- vms and GEORGE MARSHALL DOWNEY, of Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements inHarn ess and Shaft Tugs; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in harness and shaft tugs; and it consists in the combination and construction of parts which will be fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a sleeve which is adapted to be applied to an ordinary Shaft-tug for the purpose of preventing the shaft from having any play, and to construct the parts, as hereinafter shown and described, for the purposes set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tug which embodies our invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken through the shoulders on the shaft or pole.

A represents an ordinary tug, to which the girth B is connected in the usual manner. Secured within the tug is a metallic sleeve D, which is provided with a longitudinal slit in its upper side, so that it will accommodate time it will fit them sufficiently close to prevent any movement thereof. This Sleeve is preferably secured to the tug by means of a down wardly-extended screw-threaded projection I and a nut L, which is placed thereon. This prevention of the movement of the pole or shaft is of a very great advantage, especially for road-carts,as it prevents the cart from having too much horse movement. This tube also enables the girth to be tightened to any desired degree withoutanywrap ping or binding upon the poles or shafts.

The distance that the front end of the pole or shaft shall pass through the sleeve or tube is regulated by the metallic shoulders G, which are fastened to the pole or Shaft by means of a strap H or any other suitable devices. These shoulders consist of two grooved castings, which are applied to opposite sides of the pole or shaft, and around which the strap II passes. The grooves in the outer sides of these shoulders prevent the strap from slipping off, and one or both of the shoulders is provided with a projection over which the ends of the strap are made to catch. These shoulders are sufficiently large to prevent the sleeve or tube from passing backward upon the pole or shaft beyond a certain distance, and hence the distancethat the tug shall move backward upon the pole or shaft is regulated at will.

Pivoted or otherwise fastened to the rear end of the sleeve or tube is the holdhack J, in which the holdback-strap is fastened. The pull of the holdback-straps in backing will cause the sleeves or tubes to move backward upon the poles or shafts a greater distance than is desirable if it were not for the shoulders. As soon as the rear ends of the sleeves or tubes strike the shoulders the pull of the straps is exerted through the sleeve or tube directly upon the shafts or poles for the purpose of moving the vehicle backward.

As will be seen,the construction of the tug is very cheap and simple, excessive horse motion is prevented from being imparted to a cart, and the holdback-straps being attached directly to the tugs instead of to the poles or shafts the horse can walk out from between the shafts as soon as the traces are released.

Having thus described our invention, we claim-- 1. An attachment for an ordinary tug,consisting of a sleeve of less diameter than the tug, which is adapted to fit the tug closely, and a laterally-extending bolt adapted to pass through the tug, whereby it is rigidly secured within the tug, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a shaft-tug, of a device to be attached to the shaft for limiting the movement of the tug thereon, consisting of a two-part clamp and a strap which is passed around the two parts and clamps them to the shaft, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS XVILLIAM DAVIES.

GEORGE MARSHALL DOWNEY. Witnesses:

GIDEON JOHNSON GOOCH,

PAUL GIEAED. 

